Alfred's Basic Piano Library: Notespeller Book 1A: Piano Book

This workbook handles the tedious but essential drill work that students need to move from hesitant note-reading to automatic recognition. Because it correlates page-by-page with the Lesson Books, students reinforce concepts at the exact moment they encounter them in their playing, making every written exercise feel purposeful rather than busywork.

Straightforward and reassuring. The variety of written activities keeps practice from feeling mechanical, while the progressive difficulty mirrors what students are learning simultaneously in their Lesson Books.

Students working through Alfred's Basic Piano Library Level 1A who need systematic practice identifying notes and intervals on the staff. This book works equally well for students progressing through other piano methods who struggle with note-naming fluency and need structured, scaffolded review.

• Have students complete one section per practice day rather than racing through multiple pages in one sitting; spacing out the work strengthens retention.
• Check their written answers during lesson time so you can address confusion about interval counting or treble clef patterns before habits solidify.
• Mix in oral drill alongside the written exercises; ask students to name notes and intervals aloud while pointing at the page.

Assign pages alongside corresponding lessons to build confident, automatic note reading before students encounter those same notes and intervals in their pieces. Many teachers find that 5-10 minutes of Notespeller work before the lesson reduces frustration and keeps students from sounding out every single note during piece practice.

• Identifying note names on the treble clef staff
• Recognizing interval relationships (seconds, thirds, fourths, fifths)
• Automatic note recall without counting lines and spaces
• Transfer of written note-naming skills to keyboard reading